Gatecrashing Prince William's barbecue

BY DAVE BURGESS

Last updated 10:15 19/01/2010

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Prince William visiting Wellington Hospital pictured here with Ashleigh Knight 8 from Paraparaumu (R).

CEREMONY: Prince William and Prime Minister John Key after unveiling a plaque in the childrens ward of the Wellington Hospital.

HERE SOON: A mother and daughter wait for Prince William to arrive at the Wellington Hospital Children's ward.

MEET AND GREET: Prince William talked to many young patients while visiting one of the children's wards at Wellington Hospital.

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Gatecrasher at Prince William's BBQ

ROASTED: A man was detained by police for entering Premier House property yesterday.

ROBERT KITCHEN/The Dominion Post

ROASTED: Warwick Slow, 19, gained entry to Premier House in Thorndon about 7pm last night by vaulting the fence.

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The teenage radio station employee who jumped a fence to gain entry to a barbecue attended by Prince William at Premier House last night says he was trying to do something nice for the prince.

Warwick Slow, 19, an employee at radio station X105, gained entry to Premier House in Thorndon about 7pm last night by vaulting the fence, ahead of a barbecue for the prince.

He made it to the band and barbecue area in a radio stunt, mingling with guests for several minutes before police noticed.

Slow told the police his appearance at the barbecue was "a joke" and "a nice thing to do for the prince", and he had been put up to it by radio shock jock Iain Stables.

A spokesman for Prime Minister John Key said no harm had been done.

"He was clearly looking for a publicity moment. He was spotted pretty much immediately and escorted off."

Slow said he had arrived with a packet of double-cheese sizzlers and bread at the main gate.

After being turned away, he jumped the fence 50 metres down the road and walked up the driveway at Premier House to join guests who were being poured champagne.

"I talked to a few people and asked, 'Where do I put the sizzlers and the bread?"'

He was on his cellphone to Stables for most of the time and the stunt was broadcast on the radio.

About five minutes later, he was spotted by police and taken to a basement, questioned and searched.

The incident took place before Prince William arrived. A spokesman for the prince said: "We are aware of an incident at the prime minister's residence ... and it is now in the hands of the police authorities."

Police are investigating whether to lay charges.

Slow said it was possible he would be charged with trespass, but he said he didn't want a criminal conviction due to his age.

It was the second incident of the day for police, after a man was arrested outside the new Supreme Court, which Prince William opened yesterday.

The man, who was protesting about the Family Court, was shouting obscenities near Prime Minister John Key and ignored police warnings to tone down his language, Inspector Greg Gilpin said.

Mr Gilpin said there was "a bit of a scuffle" as the man was arrested, and the protester received a cut to his face.

Earlier, as the prince edged his way along a crowd, hand-shake by hand-shake, Karen Ward took nine-month-old daughter Heather from her pram and held her aloft. Then, as the prince neared, she excitedly repeated: "Kiss her, kiss her."

Incredibly, the plan worked ... sort of. "Oh my God, my daughter met a prince!" screamed Ms Ward, just seconds after the prince stopped to chat.

The kiss did not happen, however princely pecks are not given out to just anyone. "He said he couldn't, it's not royal protocol. He did say, 'she's a very pretty thing, isn't she?' And he did touch her hat. That was just so fantastic."

Little Heather received a prime ministerial peck, however. Trailing behind the prince, Mr Key was happy to oblige. "A prime minister kissed her! Look how happy she is," Ms Ward said.

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About 2000 people stood in bright sunshine outside the Supreme Court yesterday morning to glimpse Prince William during his first official overseas trip on behalf of his grandmother, the Queen. He spent about 45 minutes chatting to the crowd and shaking hands.

Earlier, hundreds gathered in the fog to welcome him to his first official engagement in the capital, a visit to the National War Memorial to lay a wreath.

The 27-year-old prince, second in line to the throne, spent the afternoon on Kapiti Island. This morning he will visit the children's ward of Wellington Hospital before flying to Sydney.

German tourist Sophie Winterhalder had to ask who the crowds were waiting for when she walked past the Supreme Court building. An hour later, and she had shaken the prince's hand.

"He asked us where we were all from and I said Germany, and he laughed," said the 24-year-old from Heidelberg. "It's my first day here. You see these types of people in the newspapers and on television ... or you just come to New Zealand."

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News